TABLES AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
DAISY JACKSON LOOKS AT NEW EATERIES THAT MIGHT PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER
2020 felt like the year that would never end, especially for those in the hospitality industry.
And now it’s time to look ahead to what will - hopefully - be a far brighter year.
While tight restrictions are expected to be in place well into the New Year, the vaccine rollout means there’s a glimmer of light on the horizon.
There are a handful of huge restaurants due to open in Greater Manchester in 2021, as well as dozens of smaller local offerings.
We’ve rounded up some of the biggest below.
Many of these had planned to open in 2020, before the year went completely haywire.
RAMONA
This old M.O.T. garage across the road from Mackie Mayor is undergoing a big transformation as we speak, to become a new food and drinks venue.
It’s the brainchild of Albert’s Schloss founders Adelaide Winter and Joel Wilkinson, and will include a pizzeria and a ‘California-style bakery’, along with bars and an outdoor events space with a pergola.
Now rebranded to Ramona - previously it was named Swan Street Firehouse - the land is part of Capital & Centric and the Kamani Property Group’s ambitious new 40 Swan Street development.
It’s due to open early in the new year, if Greater Manchester’s tier restrictions allow.
BUNDOBUST
With a winning formula of Indian street food and craft beer, it was only a matter of time before Bundobust spread its wings in Manchester.
The team behind the popular Piccadilly bar and restaurant are poised and ready to open a new site, this time in the St James building on Oxford Street, where they’ll also build the inaugural Bundobust brewery.
Based in a 4,000 sq ft former car park, it will include a 150-cover restaurant and nine street level brewing vessels capable of producing 28,000 pints of beer each month.
Guests can look forward to some special collaborations with some of the world’s best breweries, alongside a vegetarian menu of curries, chaats, bhajis and vada pav.
WINTER ISLAND
It was billed as an alternative to the Christmas Markets, but Winter Island was never able to open, thanks to national lockdown and then Tier 3.
The indoor portion of the Freight Island development, known as the Ticket Hall, was also only able to open for a matter of days.
Both are ready to reopen as soon as restrictions allow, filling the old Mayfield railway station with street food, entertainment and bars.
The site plans include an indoor curling rink, as well as stages and a cocktail bar from the Jane Eyre tucked way up in the roof overlooking the whole site.
FOUR SIDE
The Earth Cafe’s closure was one of the ones that hit hardest this year, with the much-loved Northern Quarter institution calling it quits in the summer.
Thankfully, the site - a basement unit in the Manchester Buddhist Centre - has already been snapped up, and by a man who knows a thing or two about vegan cooking.
Dan Hope is behind Firebird Hope and Krum doughnuts, but he’ll be opening a new concept here.
Four Side pizza will serve a range of plant-based Detroit-style pizzas alongside his popular doughnuts - and no booze.
He’s largely ready to open his new project as soon as restrictions let him, but will run as a takeaway in the meantime.
DEAF INSTITUTE
The news of its closure rocked the city, but it wasn’t long before the Deaf Institute was bought by Tokyo Industries.
The extent of the refurb inside is yet to be seen, but they’ve got an impressive team on board ahead of the venue’s relaunch.
The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess and the team behind legendary Northern Quarter cafe Koffee Pot will both be in charge of the kitchens on the ground floor.
The site is also home to an intimate gig venue and club space on the top floor, and a small basement room.
It was supposed to reopen in autumn but 2020 had other plans.
JIMMY’S
After being turfed out of its original Northern Quarter home on Newton Street, music bar Jimmy’s is on the move.
The new venue appears to have taken shape nicely in Ancoats - from Cutting Room Square you can see glimpses of red and black stripes, and neon signs, through the windows.
Plans include a first-floor restaurant, similar to the one at Jimmy’s Liverpool site.
Former One Night Only frontman George Craig, who launched the bar with brother and bandmate Jimmy, said: “We want to keep offering a space for new and emerging musicians so we’re excited about the move.
“It’s really exciting that we can improve on what we’ve already built and take it to Ancoats - the
community is so great over there.”
BLUES KITCHEN
It’s one of London’s most popular nightlife spots, and has secured itself a great site in Manchester for its first opening here.
Blues Kitchen is getting set up in the former Walkabout venue on Quay Street, a stone’s throw from the Peter Street party circuit where its neighbours include Albert’s Schloss, Revolucion De Cuba and Dirty Martini.
The 600-capacity venue is inspired by the southern states of America and will bring a combination of blues music, bourbon, and barbecue to this bustling late-night corner of the city - let’s just hope it’s allowed to open in early 2021 as planned.
BREWDOG HOTEL
Manchester’s first beer hotel will transform an unloved office block on Fountain Street in the city centre. The BrewDog boutique hotel will feature a rooftop bar with a fire pit, 18 en suite rooms, and a ground level restaurant and terrace.
There’ll be 28 taps of draft beer on the ground floor, with seating for around 150 customers.
Each room will come with a can fridge in the shower and a pint of Punk IPA on arrival. It’s expected to open in the summer.
KAMPUS
Capital & Centric’s new neighbourhood Kampus has been gradually taking shape across the water from Canal Street.
The Manctopia developer is turning the old MMU campus into a leafy residential corner, with plenty of ground floor space to be taken over by food and drink operators.
Independent bars, restaurants and cafes will spill out onto the central square, and to the restored cobbles of Little David Street.
The list of operators hasn’t been announced yet (Higher Ground took over the bungalow on stilts but have moved on), but the first names are expected to be confirmed in the new year.